# 197: The Intersection of Food Processing Equipment, Sustainability, and Kansas City BBQ with Doug Wilson, Marlen International

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-08-06
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Doug Wilson, Director of Engineering at Marlen International, discusses the intersection of food processing equipment, sustainability, and Kansas City barbecue culture. He explains how Marlen helps small producers scale by industrializing processes like meat cutting, emphasizing the critical need for sanitary walls between raw and prepared areas. Wilson details Marlen's patented sustainability technology that recycles 300-degree exhaust from grills into ovens to boost energy efficiency and flavor. He also shares his personal passion for barbecue, including his role with the Kansas City Barbeque Society and his custom-built, PLC-controlled smoker.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=0) Introduction: Doug Wilson and Marlen International
- [4:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=287) Kansas City BBQ Culture and Wilson's Personal Journey
- [7:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=455) Wilson's Early Career: Welding, Printing, and Plant Startup Failures
- [13:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=823) Misconceptions in Food Manufacturing: Cleanliness and Scale
- [17:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=1062) Helping Small Producers Scale: From Food Trucks to Factories
- [21:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=1263) Ensuring Quality and Sanitation in Automated Production
- [24:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=1466) Marlen's Sustainability: Recycling Grill Exhaust for Energy and Flavor
- [26:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=1571) Wilson's Custom PLC-Controlled Smoker and KCBS Judging
- [35:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-08-06-197-the-intersection-of-food-processing-equipment-sustainability-and-kansas-city#t=2101) Kansas City as a Manufacturing Hub and the Future of Food Tech

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Marlen International (company)
- Kansas City Barbeque Society (other)
- Q39 (other)
- Jack Stacks (other)
- Industrial Solutions Network (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#141 Commercial Kitchens 101: Mott Smith,  Amped Kitchens](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-05-07-141-commercial-kitchens-101-mott-smith-amped-kitchens) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [212 -Sustainability using packaging equipment? Josh Becker from Harpak-Ulma LIVE from PACK EXPO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-09-12-212-sustainability-using-packaging-equipment-josh-becker-from-harpak-ulma-live-f) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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